Multiple facets
The geography of Greater Kansai and its ten prefectures is extremely varied. You should know that Ōsaka is the second smallest prefecture in Japan. And yet, it is home to one of the largest cities in the archipelago. It is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the mountains to the east, north and south. As for the prefecture of Hyōgo, it is literally wedged between the Seto Inland Sea and the Sea of Japan. The variety of landscapes in this prefecture alone is simply impressive. Several prefectures enjoy beautiful beaches, including Shirahama, in Wakayama Prefecture, which attracts many vacationers, both Japanese and foreigners, every year. Some coastlines are home to topographical curiosities such as the Tojinbo basalt cliffs which stretch for 1 km. This rare geological formation, with its vertical rocks, has been shaped by years of erosion due to strong waves. Heading towards Shiga, one finds Lake Biwa, the largest lake in the Archipelago and the3rd oldest in the world, with a history of almost 4 million years. But Kansai is also home to many impressive mountains, the cradle of a remarkable secular culture. Nara Prefecture is the perfect example with Yoshino and its thousands of cherry trees that bloom in spring. Several ski resorts also open in winter in Kansai so that white gold aficionados can enjoy the beautiful Japanese powder snow.
National Parks
The Seto Inland Sea is a national park to which Awaji Island belongs. Setonaikai was established in 1934. It has an area of 669 square meters. Unlike the Mediterranean Sea, it is not really an inland sea in the strict sense of the term, since it has several entrances. Its water is completely renewed in 18 years, where it takes more than fifty years for the Mediterranean Sea. On the side of the Sea of Japan, north of Hyōgo prefecture, is the San'in Kaigan National Park, declared a Geopark by UNESCO in 2010. The 120 km long geological formations trace the history of the Sea of Japan from its formation nearly 25 million years ago to the present day. Nearby is also the Daisen-Oki National Park, which includes Mount Daisen in Tottori Prefecture. Also noteworthy is the Yoshino-Kumano National Park, created in 1936, which extends over the prefectures of Nara (Yoshino side) and Wakayama (Kumano side). This national park is one of the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountains listed by UNESCO. As for the Ise-Shima National Park, it was founded in 1994 and includes exceptional sites in Mie Prefecture. When it comes to nature, Kansai definitely has nothing to be ashamed of in other parts of Japan.
The environment
Ōsaka and Kōbe are highly industrialized cities, but ecological awareness is now very strong and the generations, born after Hiroshima and Nagasaki, are concerned and particularly involved in the preservation of the environment. Apart from these two major urban centres, the rest of the region is mainly oriented towards agriculture and fishing.
